Exclusive: Ben Duckett Talks on the Demands of International Cricket as England Enter Ashes Year

Ben Duckett wants to play as much as he can for England  — despite fears over player workload. 

The bustling left-hander’s international career was given a lifeline when Brendon McCullum took over as Test coach of the national side in 2022.

Duckett is the ultimate Baz-baller and with the New Zealand great adding white-ball duties to his role at the start of the year, there will be greater cohesion between the two set-ups.

The pocket rocket left-hander is one of the few all-format cricketers for England, alongside Harry Brook. He raced from the Big Bash in Australia, where he scored 243 runs in seven games, to be part of England’s 4-1 drubbing in the T20I series in India.

The first of five ODIs kicks off on Thursday as England gear up for the Champions Trophy, where they will begin their group against Australia on February 22.

“I'm at the stage of my career where I want to really take advantage of playing cricket for England,” Duckett told SportsBoom.com. 

“I'm 30 and I've been around squads and had the odd opportunity here and there. But it feels like now's the opportunity to really take it with both hands.” 

“I really want to be a part of all three formats for England, it's why I started as a kid; I wanted to play for England.” 

“Any other competition you get in between that is a bonus, but I want to make myself available at every opportunity I can to play for England.”

BUSY YEAR ENDS WITH ASHES SHOWDOWN

Another busy year for England culminates in the hugely-anticipated Ashes tour in Australia (November 21-January 8). 

Before that they host Zimbabwe for a one-off Test in May with the West Indies coming over for three T20Is and three ODIs before the five-match Test series against India. 

But all eyes have been on the Ashes for a while. For anyone who argues England have not overlooked what has been immediately in front of them in recent times, just remind them why James Anderson was given the tap on the shoulder to retire last summer. 

Since winning on the famous trip Down Under in 2011/12, England were whitewashed 5-0 in 2013/14 and lost 4-0 in 2017/18 and 2021/22 in the Aussies' backyard.

It has not been a happy hunting ground for England. But McCullum is building an armoury of fast bowlers to take on Pat Cummins’ side as England bid to regain the famous urn for the first time since 2015.

“I never like to think too far ahead, but it's certainly in my plans. I'm really hoping I will be there and opening the batting for England,” added Duckett. 

“There’s a lot of cricket to be played between now and then but it's on the horizon.” 

“It's a completely different game playing over there. I've had little snippets of cricket out there. I've not played red-ball cricket, but the pace and bounce of those pitches.” 

“They target everyone. They're all six-foot-five plus and bowl 90 miles and hour. The only thing to my advantage is I like cutting and pulling.” 

“Those pitches are suited to those kinds of players. I'll play the same way that I always do.”